DCF Spokesperson Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

40 year old Al Zimmerman was arrested on eight felony charges of using a child inÂ sexual performance. HeÂ is being held on $120,000 bondÂ at the Hillsborough County Jail.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Zimmerman worked for DCF, the state agency charged withprotecting Florida's children - for about two years. He was firedFriday after top officials learned of accusations against him.

Â Â Â Â Â According to an arrest report, Zimmerman offered two teens moneyin exchange for photographing them in sexual acts. The victims wereages 16 and 17 at the time of the crime, and at least one may havebeen in the care of DCF at one point, according to the report.

Â Â Â Â Â Authorities believe some of the images date back to December2005. Zimmerman is suspected of taking photos as recently as Friday, the report showed.

Â Â Â Â Â At least one of the teens is from Orange County. No informationwas given about the other alleged victim.

Â Â Â Â Â "We consider it to be a betrayal of the trust in thisdepartment and the people we serve," DCF Secretary Bob Butterworthtold The Associated Press on Friday. "I do not tolerate this. Theintegrity of this department cannot be compromised by the actionsof one individual."

Â Butterworth said the DCF is conducting its own investigation.Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and theAttorney General's office also have ongoing inquiries.

Â Â Â Â Â Zimmerman was arrested Friday at his parents' house in Lakeland,where he was born. He worked as a reporter for Bay News 9, a24-hour local cable news station in the Tampa Bay area. He left thestation in late 2004.Â Â Â Â Â If convicted, he faces up to 120 years in prison.